Growing the Shenandoah Valley's Tech & Entrepreneur Ecosystem

In an exciting development for the Shenandoah Valley business community, the Shenandoah Community Capital Fund (SCCF) and the Shenandoah Valley Technology Council (SVTC) have announced a strategic partnership designed to bring together the best of both organizations. The conversation on an episode of The Valley Business Today, hosted by Janet Michael with Ryan Hall, Executive Director at SCCF, and Leigh Evans, Executive Director at SVTC, provided insights into this collaborative venture. Ryan and Leigh shared their enthusiasm, emphasizing how this collaboration aims to enhance entrepreneurial support and foster a vibrant tech ecosystem in the region.

Ryan explained SCCF’s mission to support entrepreneurs by providing access to capital and educational resources, from business plan development to regional incubation and acceleration programs. Highlighting the synergy between SCCF and SVTC, he noted how this partnership codifies a long-standing relationship to serve the Shenandoah Valley’s entrepreneurs more effectively.

Leigh took over as the Executive Director of SVTC in 2023 and spearheaded a rebranding effort. Describing SVTC’s mission, she said, 'Our goal is to cultivate a vibrant ecosystem where technology practitioners and companies can flourish.' She underscored the complementary nature of SCCF and SVTC, where both organizations can support various sub-areas of entrepreneurship together.

Both directors emphasized the importance of adapting to changes in the industry and the needs of their members. Ryan shared insights on SCCF’s expansion beyond Main Street businesses to include tech-oriented companies requiring assistance in scaling. He stressed that this partnership will allow them to leverage each organization's strengths to serve a broader audience.

Leigh highlighted how SVTC members often need education and networking opportunities, areas where SCCF excels. By combining those efforts, they can offer more comprehensive support to tech companies, ensuring that entrepreneurs gain the knowledge and connections essential for success.

Looking ahead, both organizations plan to maintain their existing programs while introducing new initiatives. Ryan assured that SVTC’s membership levels and annual events such as Tech Night would remain unchanged. However, the addition of more consistent events is on the horizon to foster deeper community engagement.

Moving forward, Leigh will dedicate 10% of her time to this partnership, with the remaining 90% focused on her role at James Madison University (JMU) as the Director of Research to Impact. This position involves translating academic research into real-world applications, perfectly aligning with SVTC’s mission to drive innovation.

The partnership with JMU ensures a robust tech pipeline within the Shenandoah Valley, supporting startups in transforming research into market-ready products. Ryan highlighted the significance of having Leigh's expertise for another year, reinforcing the sustainability and growth of the tech ecosystem in the region.

Leigh expressed her excitement about the value addition for SVTC members. She praised the collaborative, egoless approach of all parties involved, emphasizing their commitment to putting end-users first. This collaboration promises to bring substantial benefits to tech practitioners and entrepreneurs in the valley.

For those interested in joining SVTC or learning more about the partnership, both Ryan and Lee recommended visiting the respective websites of SCCF (sccfva.org) and SVTC (svtc-va.org). Starting July 1, links and resources will be available on both sites, reflecting the collaborative spirit of the two organizations. It's clear that this partnership is a significant step toward nurturing a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Shenandoah Valley, where innovation and collaboration come together to drive future success.